From Seminars to Soybeans: December 2019 Recap

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast ended the 2019 Program Year strong with 7 events around the globe to continue to promote U.S. agriculture.



Canada Importer Seminar

Ecuador Importer Seminar

Ohio Seminar

2019 Crush Con

Minnesota Seminar

Minnesota State Visit

Focused Trade Missioni to Dubai


Canada Importer Seminar
Toronto, Canada
December 3rd

Food Export-Midwest International Program Associate Mike Hamrock traveled to Toronto, Canada to participate in a Food Export Importer Seminar along with our In-Market Representative for Canada,  and representatives from the local FAS Post.  The seminar was well attended by local Canadian industry professionals and importers.

Food Export Importer Seminars are made possible by our recent funding through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) aimed at diversifying export market opportunities for U.S. suppliers hit hard by recent trade and tariff issues.

Toronto 1

A look at the packed room for the Canadian Importer Seminar in Toronto

Ecuador Importer Seminar
Quito, Ecuador
December 3rd

Food Export-Midwest Branded Program Manager Molly Burns traveled to Ecuador to speak at a Food Export Importer Seminar held in the capital city of Quito.  The FAS Marketing Specialist in Quito, Andrew Barahona attended the event and addressed the crowd of importers. Importer Seminars are one of the best tools we have to meet and educate international importers about Food Exports programs and services.

Ecuador 1

The east side of Pichincha Volcano in Quito 

Ecuador 2

Food Export-Midwest Branded Program Manager Molly Burns presenting at the Importer Seminar in Quito

Ecuador 3

Andres Barahona, the FAS Marketing Specialist in Quito speaking at the Importer Seminar

Ohio Seminar “Increase Your Export Success!”
Columbus, Ohio
December 3rd

Food Export-Midwest and the Ohio Development Services Agency  hosted a seminar in Columbus titled “Increase Your Export Success”.  Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency attended the seminar and helped welcome all of the participating suppliers.  Food Export Helpline™ Counselor Dennis Lynch presented on a variety of export readiness topics throughout the day.

Keep an eye on our Seminar page to see if we have an educational seminars coming up in 2020 in your state! ⁠

Ohio Seminar 1

Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency welcoming attendees to the Ohio Seminar

Ohio Seminar 2

A display of products made and grown in Ohio

Ohio Seminar 3

Food Export Helpline™ Counselor Dennis Lynch presenting to local Ohio suppliers about Food Export’s program and services

2019 CrushCon by USSoy
Quito, Ecuador
December 4th

Food Export-Midwest Branded Program Manager Molly Burns attended the 2019 CrushCon in Quito, Ecuador hosted by USSoy which helped educate industry professionals on the different uses of soybean oil.  Molly had the opportunity to present about the Food Export Branded Program at the conference as well as listen to several different speakers and presenters.

There was a very interesting chef demo as part of the conference where local chefs showed different foods that could be cooked using US high oleic soybean oil, including empanadas, Mexican conchas (a traditional Mexican sweet bread roll), and even donuts!

Crush Con 1

The stage at 2019 Crush Con presented by U.S. Soy

Crush Con 3

Kevin Roepke, the USSEC Regional Director for Latin America kicking off the conference

Crush Con 5

Food Export-Midwest Branded Program Manager Molly Burns presenting to attendees about the Branded Program

Crush Con 2

Molly had the opportunity to present as well as participate in the educational seminars and demonstrations

Crush Con 4

A donut cooked using US high oleic soybean oil in a demo with local chefs 

Minnesota Seminar “Understanding the Canadian Food Regulatory Framework”
Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 4th

Food Export-Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosted a seminar in Minneapolis, Minnesota titled “Understanding the Canadian Food Regulatory Framework” that was extremely well attended by 25 local suppliers. Krista Coventry, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Source Nutraceutical Inc. was the keynote speaker at the event.

Canada is a top export for consumer food products for U.S. suppliers and therefore staying up to date with regulations and export education is a vital key to finding success in the market. 

Minnesota Seminar 3

Jeff Phillips, International Trade Manager at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture presenting at the state seminar

Minnesota Seminar 2

Krista Coventry, Director of Regulatory Services, Eastern Canada for Source Nutraceutical, Inc. as the keynote speaker

Minnesota State Visit & Feast Trade Show
Rochester, Minnesota
December 7th  

Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren Kliethermes traveled to Minnesota to attend the state seminar mentioned above, make several Food Export supplier visits, and attend the Feast Trade Show.  Feast is a show about bringing together local farmers and food makers and is a great opportunity for us to meet with current Food Export suppliers as well as reach out to new potential suppliers that can utilize our programs and services.

MN 1

Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren in front of the Minnesota Capital Building

MN 2

Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren with Kacia and Brian from Stone Arch Commodities one of our MN suppliers

MN 3

Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren with Emily Jerve, Marketing Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Ted from Scoular who works with feed ingredients specifically in pet food

MN 4

Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren at the Minnesota booth for the local Feast trade show

MN 5

A giant vegetable pizza

Focused Trade Mission to the U.A.E. for Retail and Food Service Products,
Dubai, U.A.E.
December 7th – 9th

Food Export held a Focused Trade Mission to the United Arab Emirates for Retail and Food Service Products at the beginning of December. There were 11 U.S. suppliers that traveled to the market to participate in the mission. Initial results show over $2.5 Million in new sales as a result of the mission, and $10.5 million in projected sales.

Food Export-Midwest Recruitment and Liaison Supervisor Paul Weiss traveled to Dubai to help facilitate the event along with our In-Market Representative for the Middle East, and Activity Coordinator Sandy.

Dubai 1

Market Briefing about the U.A.E. for participating U.S. suppliers.

Dubai 2

Food Export-Midwest Recruitment and Liaison Supervisor Paul Weiss with Activity Coordinator Sandy Renner, our In-Market Representative for the Middle East Hovig, and others at the networking reception

Dubai 3

Food Export-Midwest Recruitment and Liaison Supervisor Paul Weiss with a participating supplier New York, ODR Foods Corporation

Dubai 4

Paul in front of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

COMING UP IN JANUARY

PA Farm Show – January 10th

Delaware Ag Week

Specialty Food Buyers Mission at the Winter Fancy Food Show – January 17 – 20

Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission at IPPE – January 27 – 30